Box Score (HTML)

BLOOMSBURG – Senior Alssene Saintilus (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) poured in a game-high 20 points, but it was not enough for the Bloomsburg University men's basketball team as visiting California (PA) scored a 75-68 victory on Sunday afternoon at Nelson Field House.

The Huskies (6-6, 2-6 PSAC) nearly came up with a monumental comeback in the final minute. Down nine with 43 seconds to play, Anthony McKie (Blue Bell/Plymouth Whitemarsh) drove to the hoop for the bucket and-one following a foul, completing the traditional three-point play to cut the score to 71-65.

McKie then picked off the Vulcans' inbounds pass, quickly kicking out to Jon Riles (Philadelphia/Academy of the New Church) who drained a long 3-pointer for a 71-68 score with 32 seconds to play.

Bloomsburg again caused havoc on the inbounds play, but the Vulcans were able to get control and got to the line with the Huskies forced to foul. Cal U's Jake Jacubec sank both free throws for a five-point lead. The Huskies had another chance, but Riles missed another 3-point attempt to allow the Vulcans to put the game away at the line with two more free throws from Daniel Sapp.

California (10-4, 6-3) held the early advantage and took a 39-35 lead to halftime.

The Huskies suffocated the Vulcans in the first part of the second half to take the lead. Bloomsburg opened the second half on 9-0 run and did not allow Cal to record a point until the 13:48 mark when Khalil Jabbie finally ended the drought with two shots at the line.

The Vulcans did not hit a shot from the floor for nearly eight minutes as the Huskies seized a 44-39 advantage with work inside by Saintilus. Cal answered, however, with a 12-2 run of its own to take a 51-46 lead with 9:48 to play.

From there the Vulcans never trailed, however Bloomsburg had its chances. Another bucket in the lane by Saintilus brought the Huskies to within 53-50 with 6:36 to go, but back-to-back dunks from Richard Smith turned the tide following a pair of Bloomsburg turnovers.

Bloomsburg remained within single digits the rest of the way before mounting its late charge that came up just short.

Saintilus connected on 6-of-9 shots from the floor as part of his 20-point effort, adding five rebounds. Riles posted 13 points and handed out four assists.

Four players reached double figure scoring for the Vulcans, led by Jabbie's 16 points while Smith registered 15 points.

Bloomsburg returns to action by finishing PSAC crossover play at Slippery Rock on Wednesday night.